Vehicle seat with rear stow pivot assembly

ABSTRACT

A vehicle seat pivot assembly is provided including a support assembly, an arm, and a first load cam. The arm is supported on the support assembly for pivotal displacement between a first position and a second position. The first load cam is pivotally supported on the support assembly to selectively engage a first sector plate. The first load cam engages a first portion of the first sector plate to lock the arm in the first position. The first load cam engages a second portion of the first sector plate to lock the arm in the second position.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a vehicle seat support assembly and, more particularly, to a vehicle seat rear stow and pivot assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Vehicle markets are extremely competitive, particularly the mini-van and sport utility markets. A growing focus of the competition is the overall utility and comfort of these vehicles. One important utility feature that is gaining much attention includes flexible vehicle interiors and, more particularly, flexible rear or third-row seating assemblies. Flexibility in this sense refers to the ability to modify the configuration of a particular seating assembly. For example, a passenger might desire to fold down a rear or third-row seat to provide a workspace during travel. As such, a passenger could use the rear of the folded-down seatback as a desk. Additionally, a passenger might desire to configure the seat in a manner providing for an open area in the cargo compartment of the vehicle. As such, a customer can use the cargo compartment to load large items on top of a load floor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A vehicle seat pivot assembly is provided including a support assembly, an arm, and a first load cam. The arm is supported on the support assembly for pivotal displacement between a first position and a second position. The first load cam is pivotally supported on the support assembly to selectively engage a first sector plate. The first load cam engages a first portion of the first sector plate to lock the arm in the first position. The first load cam engages a second portion of the first sector plate to lock the arm in the second position.

Another aspect of the present invention provides a vehicle seat pivot assembly including a support assembly, an arm, a stop pin, and a first load cam. The arm is supported on the support assembly for pivotal displacement between a first position and a second position. The stop pin is disposed on the arm and engages the support assembly when the arm is in said first position to apply a torque thereto in a first direction. The first load cam is pivotally supported on the support assembly to engage a first sector plate. The first load cam engages the first sector plate when the arm is in the first position and applies a torque thereto in a second direction. The second direction is opposite the first direction. The combination of the torque applied by the stop pin and the torque applied by the first load cam locks the arm in the first position.

Another aspect of the present invention provides a vehicle seat assembly including a seating member, an arm, a first load cam, and a second load cam. The arm is attached to the seating member and supported on a support assembly for pivotal displacement between a first position and a second position. The seating member is in a seating position when the arm is in the first position. The seating member is in a stowed position when the arm is in the second position. The first load cam is pivotally supported on the support assembly for selectively engaging a first sector plate to lock the seating member in the seating and stowed positions. The second load cam is pivotally supported on the support assembly for selectively engaging a second sector plate to lock the seating member in the seating position.

Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a vehicle seating apparatus in a seating position;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the vehicle seating apparatus of FIG. 1 in a semi-stowed position;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the vehicle seating apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2 in a stowed position;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a vehicle seat pivot assembly of FIGS. 1-3;

FIG. 5A is an exploded perspective view of the vehicle seat pivot assembly of FIG. 4;

FIG. 5B is a perspective view of a locking mechanism of the vehicle seat pivot assembly of FIG. 5A;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the vehicle seat pivot assembly of FIG. 4 illustrating a low load sector plate and low load cam in a seating position;

FIG. 7 is a side view of the vehicle seat pivot assembly of FIG. 6 in a stowed position;

FIG. 8 is a side view of a vehicle seat pivot assembly illustrating a high load sector plate and high load cam in a seating position;

FIG. 9 is a side view of the vehicle seat pivot assembly of FIG. 8 in a stowed position;

FIG. 10 is a side view of a vehicle seat pivot assembly illustrating the position of a stop pin in a seating position; and

FIG. 11 is a side view of the vehicle seat pivot assembly of FIG. 10 illustrating the stop pin in a stowed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following description of the preferred embodiments are merely exemplary in nature and are in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.

FIG. 1 depicts a vehicle seating apparatus 10 including a seatback 12, a seat bottom 14, and a stow pivot assembly 16. The seatback 12 is pivotally attached to the seat bottom 14. The stow pivot assembly 16 generally includes a support subassembly 18, an arm subassembly 20, and a locking subassembly 22. The seat bottom 14 is pivotally attached to the arm subassembly 20. The arm subassembly 20 is pivotable relative to the support subassembly 18 to configure the seating apparatus 10 between a seating position, shown in FIG. 1, and a stowed position, shown in FIG. 3. In the embodiment illustrated, the seating apparatus 10 must pivot relative to the arm subassembly, as is illustrated in FIG. 2, to complete the transition between the seating and stowed positions. It should be appreciated, however, that in an alternative embodiment the seating apparatus 10 is fixedly attached to the stow pivot assembly 16 and need not pivot or rotate relative thereto.

With reference to FIGS. 5A and 5B, the support subassembly 18 includes a major support bracket 24, a first minor support bracket 26, and a second minor support bracket 28. The major support bracket 24 includes a plurality of fixation apertures 30 and a control flange 32. The plurality of fixation apertures 30 are adapted to receive a plurality of fasteners (not shown) to attach the major support bracket 24 to the floor of a vehicle. The control flange 32 includes a main pivot aperture 34, a biasing pin aperture 39, a first stop surface 36, a second stop surface 38, and a support notch 37. The first minor support bracket 26 includes an arcuate slot 40, a cam pivot aperture 43, and a central pivot aperture 41. The second minor support bracket 28 includes an arcuate slot 42 and a cam pivot aperture 45. The second minor support bracket 28 is disposed between the major support bracket 24 and minor support bracket 26. The arcuate slots 40, 42 in the first and second minor support brackets 26, 28 are substantially aligned with each other to define stowed surfaces 40 a, 42 a and seated surfaces 40 b, 42 b.

The arm subassembly 20 generally includes an arm member 44, a central pivot pin 46, a stop pin 48, a biasing member 50, and a biasing pin 52. The arm member 44 includes a central aperture 54, a pair of rivet apertures 56, a stop pin aperture 58, a seat flange 60, a seat fixation aperture 62, and a support boss 63 (shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B).

The locking subassembly 22 includes a high load sector plate 64, a low load sector plate 66, a high load cam 68, a low load cam 70, a release lever 72, a first biasing member 74, a second biasing member 76, a slide pin 78, and a cam pivot 69. The locking subassembly 22 is adapted to lock the arm subassembly 20 in a first position, shown in FIG. 1, and a second position, shown in FIG. 3.

The high load sector plate 64 includes a central aperture 79, a stop pin aperture 80, a pair of rivet apertures 82, a notch 84, and a cammed surface 86. The low load sector plate 66 includes a central aperture 88, a stop pin aperture 90, a pair of rivet apertures 92, a first notch 94, a second notch 96, and a cammed surface 98. The first notch 94 includes an engaging surface 100 (shown in FIGS. 6 and 7). The high load cam 68 includes a pivot aperture 102, a slide pin aperture 104, a nose 106, and an arcuate edge 108. The low load cam 70 includes a pivot aperture 110, a release lever aperture 112, a nose 114, a cam edge 116, and an unlocking edge 118. The release lever 72 includes a central aperture 120, a handle 122, and a connector flange 124.

With continued reference to FIGS. 5A and 5B, the stow pivot assembly 16 is assembled as follows. The central pivot pin 46 of the arm subassembly is disposed through the central aperture 54 of the arm member 44, the main pivot aperture 34 of the control flange 32 of the major support bracket 24, the central aperture 88 of the low load sector plate 66, the central aperture 79 of the high load sector plate 64, and the central pivot aperture 41 of the first minor support bracket 26. The biasing member 50 of the arm subassembly 20 is also disposed on the central pivot pin 46. The biasing member 50 includes a coil spring having an arm 51 engaging the biasing pin 52. The biasing pin 52 is fixedly disposed in the biasing pin aperture 39 of the control flange 32 of the major support bracket 24. The biasing member 50 biases the arm subassembly 20 into the first position illustrated in FIG. 1.

As stated above, the high load sector plate 64 and low load sector plate 66 are disposed on the central pivot pin 46. The high load sector plate 64 and low load sector plate 66 are fixedly attached to the arm member 44 via a pair of rivets 65. The pair of rivets 65 are received in the rivet apertures 56 of the arm member 44, the rivet apertures 82 of the high load sector plate 64, and the rivet apertures 92 of the low load sector plate 66. The rivets 65 attach the high and low load sector plates 64, 66 to the arm member 44.

The stop pin 48 of the arm subassembly 20 is disposed in the stop pin aperture 58 of the arm member 44, the stop pin aperture 80 of the high load sector plate 64, and the stop pin aperture 90 of the low load sector plate 66. Therefore, the arm member 44, high and low load sector plates 64, 66, and the stop pin 48 all rotate together upon pivotal displacement of the arm member 44 relative to the support subassembly 18.

The cam pivot 69 is disposed in the pivot aperture 102 of the high load cam 68, the pivot aperture 110 of the low load cam 70, the cam pivot aperture 43 of the first minor support bracket 26, the cam pivot aperture 45 of the second minor support bracket 28, and the central aperture 120 of the release lever 72. Additionally, the first and second biasing members 74, 76 of the locking subassembly 22 are disposed on the cam pivot 69. The first biasing member 74 includes a coil spring having an arm 75 engaging the handle 122 of the release lever 72 to bias the low load cam 70 into the low load sector plate 66. The second biasing member 76 includes a coil spring similar to the first biasing member 74 having an arm 77 engaging the slide pin 78. The slide pin 78 is disposed in the arcuate slots 40, 42 of the first and second minor support brackets 26, 28 of the support subassembly 18. The slide pin 78 is further disposed in the slide pin aperture 104 of the high load cam 68. Therefore, the second biasing member 76 biases the high load cam 68 into engagement with the high load sector plate 64.

FIG. 6 depicts the stow pivot assembly 16 in a seated position having the first minor support bracket 26 removed to expose the low load cam 70 and low load sector plate 66. In this position, the nose 114 of the low load cam 70 is received in the first notch 94 of the low load sector plate 66. The cam edge 116 of the low load cam 70 frictionally engages the engaging surface 100 of the first notch 94. This provides a torque to the low load sector plate 66 in a counterclockwise direction, as shown in FIG. 6. It should be appreciated that the first biasing member 74 (shown in FIGS. 4 and 5) of the locking subassembly 22 ensures the above engagement by biasing the low load cam 70 into the low load sector plate 66.

FIG. 8 depicts the stow pivot assembly 16 in the seated position having the first minor support bracket 26 removed to expose the high load cam 68 and high load sector plate 64. In this position, the nose 106 of the high load cam 68 is received in the notch 84 of the high load sector plate 64. The nose 106 of the high load cam 68 restricts rotational displacement of the high load sector plate 64 and, therefore, the arm subassembly 20 under high loads applied thereto. Additionally, the slide pin 78 of supported by the high load cam 68 is positioned in the arcuate slots 40, 42 of the first and second minor support brackets adjacent to the seated surfaces 40 b, 42 b. This provides supplemental support to restrict the arm subassembly 20 from pivoting beyond the seated position. It should be appreciated that the second biasing member 76 (shown in FIGS. 4 and 5) of the locking subassembly 22 ensures the above engagement by biasing the slide pin 78, and therefore, the high load cam 68 into the high load sector plate 64.

FIG. 10 depicts the stow pivot assembly 16 in the seated position have the minor support -brackets 26, 28, the load cams 68, 70, and the sector plates 64, 66 removed to expose the position of the stop pin 48 of the arm subassembly 20. The stop pin 48 engages the first stop surface 36 of the control flange 32 of the major support bracket 24. The stop pin 48, therefore, limits the counterclockwise rotation of the arm subassembly 20 relative to the support subassembly 18, as viewed in FIGS. 6-11. Furthermore, the support boss 63 on the arm member 44 engages the support notch 37 on the control flange 32 of the major support bracket 24. This engagement also limits to counterclockwise rotation of the arm subassembly 20 relative to the support subassembly 18.

FIG. 7 depicts the stow pivot assembly 16 in a stowed position having the first minor support bracket 26 removed to expose the low load cam 70 and low load sector plate 66. The nose 114 of the low load cam 70 is received in the second notch 96 of the low load sector plate 66. This locks the low load sector plate 66 and, therefore, the arm subassembly 20 in the stowed position. It should be appreciated that the first biasing member 74 (shown in FIGS. 4 and 5) of the locking subassembly 22 ensures the above engagement by biasing the low load cam 70 into the low load sector plate 66.

FIG. 9 depicts the stow pivot assembly 16 in the stowed position having the first minor support bracket 26 removed therefrom to expose the high load cam 68 and the high load sector plate 64. The slide pin 78 is disposed in the slide pin aperture 104 of the high load cam 68 and engages the stowed surfaces 40 a, 42 a of the arcuate slots 40, 42 in the first and second minor support brackets 26, 28. The arcuate edge 108 of the high load cam 68 slidably engages the cammed surface 86 of the high load sector plate 64. It should be appreciated that the high load cam 68 does not lock the high load sector plate 64 in this stowed position.

FIG. 11 depicts the stow pivot assembly 16 in the stowed position have the minor support brackets 26, 28, the load cams 68, 70, and the sector plates 64, 66 removed to expose the position of the stop pin 48 of the arm subassembly 20. The stop pin 48 engages the second stop surface 38 of the control flange 32 of the major support bracket 24. The stop pin 48, therefore, limits the clockwise rotation of the arm subassembly 20 relative to the support subassembly 18, as viewed in FIGS. 6-11.

The following steps describe the transition between the seating and stowed positions for the stow pivot assembly 16. With the stow pivot assembly 16 in the seated position, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, a moment is applied to the handle 122 of the release lever 72 in a clockwise direction. This moment is transferred to the low load cam 70 via the connector flange 124 of the release lever 72. Thus, the low load cam 70 begins to pivot in the clockwise direction such that the cam edge 116 disengages the engaging surface 100 of the first notch 94 of the low load sector plate 66. Further rotation of the release lever 72 and, therefore, the low load cam 70 causes the unlocking edge 118 of the low load cam 70 to engage the slide pin 78. This causes the slide pin 78 to displace from the seated surfaces 40 b, 42 b of the first and second minor support brackets 26, 28. The nose 106 of the high load cam 68 is then relieved from the notch 84 in the high load sector plate 64. Once this occurs, the high and low load sector plates 64, 66, as well as the arm subassembly 20, are free to begin rotating clockwise toward the stowed position illustrated in FIGS. 7, 9 and 11. Once this rotation begins to occur, the clockwise force applied to the handle 122 of the release lever 72 may be released. Upon release of the release lever 72, the first biasing member 74 biases the release lever 72 counterclockwise such that the nose 114 of the low load cam 70 slidably engages the cammed surface 98 of the low load sector plate 66. Additionally, the second biasing member 76 biases the slide pin 78 and high load cam 68 counterclockwise such that the nose 106 of the high load cam 68 slidably engages the cammed surface 86 of the high load sector plate 64. This continues until the nose 114 of the low load cam 70 is aligned with the second notch 96 of the low load sector plate 66. Upon alignment, the first biasing member 74 biases the nose 114 of the low load cam 70 into the second notch 96 of the low load sector plate 66. This locks the low load sector plate 66 and, therefore, the arm subassembly 20, in the stowed position illustrated in FIGS. 7, 9 and 11.

To return the stow pivot assembly 16 to the seated position illustrated in FIGS. 6, 8 and 10, a clockwise force is again applied to the handle 122 of the release lever 72. This removes the nose 114 of the low load cam 70 from the second notch 96 in the low load sector plate 66. A counterclockwise force may then be applied to the arm subassembly 20 to move the arm subassembly 20 and high and low load sector plates 64, 66 to the seated position illustrated in FIGS. 6, 8 and 10. Once sufficient rotation has been accomplished, the clockwise force applied to the handle 122 of the release lever 72 may be released. This enables the first biasing member 74 to bias the nose 114 of the low load cam 70 into the first notch 94 of the low load sector plate 66. Consequently, the cam edge 116 of the low load cam 70 frictionally engages the engaging surface 100 of the first notch 94, thereby applying a counterclockwise torque to the low load sector plate 66. Additionally, the second biasing member 76 biases the nose 106 of the high load cam 68 into the notch 84 of the high load sector plate 64. It should be appreciated that the interconnection between the high load cam 68 and high load sector plate 64 prevents pivotal displacement of the arm subassembly 20 in reaction to large forces. Additionally, it should be appreciated that the frictional engagement between the cam edge 116 of the low load cam 70 and the engaging surface 100 of the first notch 94 of the low load sector plate 66 prevents minute pivotal displacement of the arm subassembly 20 in reaction to low forces.

In light of the foregoing it should be appreciated that the stow pivot assembly 16 of the present invention provides the ability to lock the seating apparatus 10 in both the seated and stowed positions. It should further be appreciated that while the above-described embodiment includes a high load sector plate 64 interacting with a high load cam 68 and a low load sector plate 66 interacting with a low load cam 70 to achieve this multi-locking feature, a stow pivot assembly 16 including a single sector plate and load cam is intended to be within the scope of the present invention. It is envisioned that an alternative embodiment of the stow pivot assembly 16 only includes the low load sector plate 66 and the low load cam 70. The interaction and engagement between the low load sector plate 66 and low load cam 70, as described above in accordance with the first embodiment, would sufficiently deter loads being applied to the arm subassembly 20 by maintaining the stow pivot assembly 16 in a locked state.

The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention. 

1. A vehicle seat pivot assembly, comprising: a support assembly; an arm supported on said support assembly for pivotal displacement between a first position and a second position; and a first load cam pivotally supported on said support assembly to selectively engage a first portion of a first sector plate to lock said arm in said first position and a second portion of said first sector plate to lock said arm in said second position.
 2. The seat pivot assembly of claim 1 wherein said first sector plate includes a first notch for receiving a portion of said first load cam when said arm is locked in said first position and a second notch for receiving a portion of said first load cam when said arm is locked in said second position.
 3. The seat pivot assembly of claim 1 wherein said first sector plate is fixed for rotation with said pivotal displacement of said arm.
 4. The seat pivot assembly of claim 1 further comprising a biasing member biasing said first load cam into engagement with said first sector plate.
 5. The seat pivot assembly of claim 1 further comprising a second load cam pivotally supported on said support assembly to selectively engage a second sector plate and lock said arm in said first position.
 6. The seat pivot assembly of claim 5 wherein said second sector plate includes a notch for receiving a portion of said second load cam when said arm is locked in said first position.
 7. The seat pivot assembly of claim 5 wherein said second sector plate is fixed for rotation with said pivotal displacement of said arm.
 8. The seat pivot assembly of claim 1 further comprising a stop pin disposed on said arm for engaging said support assembly and preventing said arm from pivoting beyond said first and second positions.
 9. A vehicle seat pivot assembly, comprising: a support assembly; an arm supported on said support assembly for pivotal displacement between a first position and a second position; a stop pin disposed on said arm and engaging said support assembly when said arm is in said first position to apply a torque thereto in a first direction; a first sector plate supported for rotation with said pivoted displacement of said arm; and a first load cam pivotally supported on said support assembly and operable to lock said arm in said first position through engagement with said first sector plate and apply a torque to said arm in a second direction that is opposite said first direction.
 10. The seat pivot assembly of claim 9 wherein said first sector plate includes a first notch for receiving a portion of said first load cam when said arm is in said first position and a second notch for receiving a portion of said first load cam when said arm is in said second position.
 11. The seat pivot assembly of claim 9 wherein said first sector plate is fixed to said arm.
 12. The seat pivot assembly of claim 9 further comprising a biasing member biasing said first load cam into engagement with said first sector plate.
 13. The seat pivot assembly of claim 9 further comprising a second load cam pivotally supported on said support assembly to engage a second sector plate and lock said arm in said first position.
 14. The seat pivot assembly of claim 13 wherein said second sector plate includes a notch for receiving a portion of said second load cam.
 15. A vehicle seat assembly, comprising: a seating member; an arm attached to said seating member and supported on a support assembly for pivotal displacement between a first position wherein said seating member is in a seating position, and a second position wherein said seating member is in a stowed position; a first load cam pivotally supported on said support assembly for selectively engaging a first sector plate to lock said seating member in said seating and stowed positions; and a second load cam pivotally supported on said support assembly for selectively engaging a second sector plate to lock said seating member in said seating position.
 16. The seat assembly of claim 15 further comprising a stop pin disposed on said arm and engaging said support assembly when said seating member is in said seating position to apply a torque thereto in a first direction.
 17. The seat assembly of claim 16 wherein said first load cam applies a torque to said first sector plate in a second direction that is opposite said first direction when said seating member is in said seating position.
 18. The seat assembly of claim 15 wherein said first sector plate includes a first notch for receiving a portion of said first load cam when said seating member is in said seating position and a second notch for receiving a portion of said first load cam when said seating member is in said stowed position.
 19. The seat assembly of claim 15 wherein said second sector plate includes a notch for receiving a portion of said second load cam when said seating member is in said seating position.
 20. The seat assembly of claim 15 wherein said first and second sector plates are fixed for rotation with said pivotal displacement of said arm. 